Simpsons Players Strike

Daily Variety reports that the voices behind Fox’s iconic animated hit, The Simpsons, are refusing to go back into the recording booth as their contracts are being renegotiated. Dan Castellaneta (Homer), Hank Azaria (Moe, Apu, others), Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns, others), Yeardley Smith (Lisa), Julie Kavner (Marge) and Nancy Cartwright (Bart) have reportedly failed to show up for recent table reads, holding up the production of new episodes.

The actors, who now get $125,000 per episode, are reportedly asking for $360,000, or $8 million for a 22-episode season. The strike resembles one the voice actors lodged in 1998 when they were only making $30,000 per installment. Twentieth Century Fox TV reportedly threatened to recast the roles at that time.

A Simpsons feature film is in the early stages of development and may also be put on hold until an amicable deal is reached.